Compare towns
Calais vs Reading vs Windham vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Calais | Reading | Windham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
699 |
594Lowest |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Calais and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.